Rose at Ascot

         Rathlin Rose runs at Ascot

There are three meetings today.  A flat card at Doncaster pus two jumps meetings at Ascot and Carlisle.  David runs Rathlin Rose in the 4.20pm at Ascot, a 3 mile veterans handicap chase.  The youngest horse in the race is 10 years old.  There is good prize money on offer with £30,000 added.  Rathlin Rose has been in good form of late, winnings and finishing second in two military races at Sandown recently with Guy Disney on board.  Tom Scu is back in the saddle today and with only 10st 5lb on his back he should like this stiff track and he should run well.  There is another three runner novice chase on the Ascot card.  Surely this is the trainers telling people that they do not want these type of races.  They can't make it a lot clearer!  What must be frustrating for the racecourses is that they put up good prize money and attract such a small field.  Something needs to change.

I see that Grand National favourite Blaklion has had a wind operation since his last run.  He won the Becher chase over the National fences back in December and he missed the Cheltenham Festival so will head straight to Aintree as a fresh horse.  Blaklion is partly owner by our friend Gino who David and I stay with during the Aintree meeting.  Aintree is not long away and I can't wait.  It is a completely different sort of crowd from the one you get at Cheltenham, especially on the Friday for Ladies day.  You do see some sights and I am not talking about the horses!

I did think in Fridays racing that it was strange that Sedgefield's card carried more prize money than was on offer at Newbury.  Newbury is a Grade 1 track after all.

In the golf, Rory McIlroy was knocked out of the World Match Play but says it will not damage his chances of winning the Masters.  I personally think that Rory and Tiger Woods are too short a price in the betting for the Masters.  McIlroy needs to win at Augusta to complete a career Majors Grand Slam.  I just hope I am wrong and he wins but I'm afraid I can't see it happening.

A postman came to my door and said is this letter for you...the name is smadged.  I said no my name is Chester!  Have a good day.